John 16:25-33

²⁵"Though I have been speaking figuratively, a time is coming when I will no longer use this kind of language but will tell you plainly about My Father. ²⁶In that day you will ask in My name. I am not saying that I will ask the Father on your behalf. ²⁷No, the Father Himself loves you because you have loved Me and have believed that I came from God. ²⁸I came from the Father and entered the world; now I am leaving the world and going back to the Father." ²⁹Then Jesus' disciples said, "Now You are speaking clearly and without figures of speech. ³⁰Now we can see that You know all things and that You do not even need to have anyone ask You questions. This makes us believe that You came from God." ³¹"You believe at last!" Jesus answered. ³²"But a time is coming, and has come, when you will be scattered, each to his own home. You will leave Me all alone. Yet I am not alone, for My Father is with Me. ³³I have told you these things, so that in Me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world."

Jesus finally brings everything to a conclusion, speaking about the security that is ours because we have come to know God as our Father. While He was on earth, Jesus spoke in parables, and few understood Him. But now, He was speaking plainly. God permits us to be stupefied for a time, in order to humble us by a conviction of our own weakness, lack of understanding, and poverty; but He causes those whom He enlightens by His Spirit to make such progress, that the word of God becomes known and familiar to them. This is the beginning of that progression for the disciples, who were now bold enough only to ask Jesus about the Father. Soon they would be bold to approach the Father Himself in Jesus’ name. The disciples were far above those who had no relish for the word of the Gospel, and yet they were still like children learning the alphabet, in comparison of the new wisdom to be bestowed on them by the Holy Spirit. Their joy would grow.

Soon, the disciples would be filled with the Spirit, even as Jesus had promised – but before then (He tells them so that they do not fall into lasting unbelief when it happens), they will all abandon Jesus. But still, they will not be utterly lost, for Jesus has wrought an unstoppable victory. He has overcome the world. Jesus’ question is ironic, as if He had said, “Don’t boast of being full of faith, for the trial that will scatter you from Me is at hand.” We ought to restrain our foolish confidence (Galatians 6:3). Furthermore, notice that the scattering of these disciples does not leave Jesus alone. His Father is with Him. And if we find ourselves alone in the world – like Elijah supposed – then we need only remember the presence of God to realize that we’ve never been alone; we never will be. Finally, in v33, we see that Jesus has revealed these things to His disciples to encourage them to persevere. They can and will fight to the end, knowing that victory is won in Jesus.

The farewell discourse of Jesus is deep beyond measure. To understand more of this discourse, just look to 1 John. The Trinity glorified and the covenant of redemption revealed should comfort us, knowing the truth of Romans 8:31: “If God is for us, who can be against us?” Our roots (genuine faith in Christ and the gospel) grow deeper by studying God’s word, simply because we have the Spirit of God. God lives in us, despite our sin!